Fruit-box



(No Model.)

A. H. MEEGH. FRUIT BOX.

Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

ALFRED H. MEEOH, OF OHATHAM, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,421, dated April 11, 1893.

Application filed May 24, 1892.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. MEEOH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghatham, in the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvemc'nts in Fruit-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improved box of angular form suitable for shipping or transporting berries, grapes and other fruit or perishable articles, the construction being such that the box .possesses strength and durability, is susceptible of being economically manufactured, and can be readily and conveniently folded into box form with the parts securely interlocked to prevent their accidental disengagement or separation.

The invention consists essentially in a box blank formed with a series of radiating wings or flaps each of which is provided in proximity to one edge with a tongue receiving slot and at the opposite edge withalocking tongue piece or hooked extension, in such manner that each wing or flap by its slot near one edge engages the locking tongue piece or hooked extension of a contiguous wing or flap and by its tongue piece or hooked extension at the opposite edge enters into interlocking engagement with the slot of another contiguous wing, or flap.

The invention also consists in other features of construction which will be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a plan view of a box blank constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2, is a perspective view of a partially completed box. Fig. 3, is a perspective view of a complete box, and Fig. 4, is a perspective view of a modification.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings wherein- The numeral 1 indicates the bottom wallportion, having creases 2, so relatively disposed that an octagon box is produced when the radiating wings or flaps 3 are turned up and connected as hereinafter explained.

The box blank may be produced from paper, cardboard, pasteboard, veneer or any Serial No. 434,177. (No model.)

box walls, the junctions of the straight edge 4 and the opposite inclined edge 5, of each flap, are constructed with a circular or similar shaped opening or cut out portion 6, of small dimensions, and to secure ventilation of berries, grapes, or other fruit or perishable articles contained in the box, the wings or flaps are provided with perforations 7.

The characteristic features of my invention reside in the peculiar means for connecting the wings or flaps of the box blank to provide a strong, durable, efficient and satisfactory box which can be readily, conveniently and economically manufactured, and for these purposes I provide each one of the wings or flaps with a rectilinear slot 8 in proximity to the straight edge 4 and located parallel with a crease-9 which is formed between such edge 4 and the slot. The edge portion of each wing or flap which is opposite the straight edge 4 and above the inclined edge 5, is formed with a projecting part 10, having a hook 12 to constitute a locking tongue piece or hooked extension, and in proximity to such extension the wing or flap is provided with two creases 13 and 14 which converge from the outer edge of the wing or flap to one of the orifices or cut out portions 6. The creases alluded to permit the flap to be properly bent round for the purpose of engaging the looking tongue pieces with the slots.

In practice the tongue pieces 12 are interlocked with the slots 8 and the straight edges 4 register or coincide with the creases 13, while the creases 14 register or coincide with the creases 9. It will be observed that each wing or flap is provided with a tongue receiving slot and with a locking tongue piece in such manner that each wing or flap by its slot 8 near one edge engages the locking tongue piece or hooked extension of a contiguous wing or flap and by its tongue piece 12 at the opposite edge enters into interlocking engagement with the slot of another contiguous wing or flap. By this means each flap interlocks with a contiguous flap and receives the locking tongue piece of another contiguous flap.

The construction provides a very strong and substantial fruit box which may be of any angular form and is well adapted for shipping or transporting berries and other fruit or perishable articles, while it is susceptible of being manufactured with economy and can be folded into proper shape with the parts so interlocked that their accidental separation is avoided.

In the modification Fig. 4, the construction is the same as described with reference to the remaining figures except that one of the flaps 3 is formed integral with a cover piece 15, having a hook 16 to engage a slot 17 in one of the Wings or flaps. This covered box is particularly designed for transporting or shipping grapes, but obviously can be used for other purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A box blank comprising a polygonal bottom wall portion and a series of wings or flaps arranged around and radiating from said bottom wall portion, each wing or flap being formed with a hook receiving slot in proximity to one edge and with a hook forming an extension of the opposite edge, so that every wing or flap by its slot near one edge engages the hook of a contiguous wing or flap and by its hook at the opposite edge enters into interlocking engagement with the slot of another contiguous wing or flap, substantially as described. Y

2. A fruit box composed of a sheet of material comprising a polygonal bottom wall portion and a series of wings or flaps arranged around and radiating from said bottom wall portion, each wing or flap having a hook receiving slot in proximity to one edge and a projecting hook forming an extension of the opposite edge, every wing or flap by its slot near one edge engaging the projecting hook of a contiguous wing or flap and by its projecting hook at the, opposite edge entering into interlocking engagement with the slot of another contiguous wing or flap, substantially as described.

3. A fruit box, consisting of a sheet of material comprising a polygonal bottom wall portion 1 and a series of wings or flaps 3 arranged around and radiating from said bottom wall portion, each wing or fiap being formed near one edge with the crease 9 and a rectilineous slot 8 parallel with said crease, and at the opposite edge with a projecting hook 12 forming an extension of such opposite edge, every wing or flap by its slot near said crease engaging the projecting hook of a contiguous wing or flap and by its projecting hook entering into interlocking engagement with the slot near the crease of a contiguous wing or flap, substantially as described.

4. A fruit box composed of a sheet of material comprising a bottom wall portion 1 and wings or flaps 3 extending therefrom and each formed with a straight edge 4, a crease 9, a rectilinear slot 8, converging creases l3 and 14, and a hook extension 12, each wing or flap by its slot 8 near one edge engaging the hook extension of a contiguous wing or flap and by its hook extension 12 at the opposite edge entering into interlocking engagement with the slot of another contiguous wing or flap, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED H. MEECH. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

SANFORD W. SMITH, WALLACE O. BEEBE. 

